This is my last letter as president. Gordon Illg becomes president on July 1 and I look forward to working with him this coming year. NANPA is an amazing organization and I know under Gordon’s leadership, NANPA will continue to do great things for its members.

As the April 9 early registration deadline nears for the Nature Photography Celebration in Jackson, Wyoming, I thought I’d write about questions we’ve been answering lately in the NANPA office.

First of all, it’s a NANPA event; and anyone who has ever attended a summit or regional event knows that they’re fun, educational, inspiring, and you get to hang out with a bunch of friendly nature photographers. Summits are primarily inside at a convention center or hotel, and regional events are outdoor field trips or workshops. Celebration combines the two—indoor presentations plus our schedule allows for free time each morning to photograph and spend time with other photographers and vendors in the field. Or have coffee or drinks together after hours in some of the cool watering holes in downtown Jackson.

A few years ago, NANPA adopted the tagline, “Connecting the Nature Photography Community,” and as I drafted this month’s article I thought about the many “connection” opportunities available within NANPA. Here are just a few:

Based on feedback from surveys and comments from you, NANPA developed a new meeting format for off-summit years. You asked for less time in meeting rooms and more time outside to photograph and hang out with fellow photographers. You asked for a less expensive venue in a gorgeous location with economical lodging options. NANPA listened — and registration opened recently for our 2018 Jackson Nature Photography Celebration. Instead of being in a giant hotel/convention center, you’ll pick your own lodging (we negotiated some great rates in several hotels—plus you’ll find plenty of campgrounds nearby.) We will meet from May 20-22, 2018 at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming to learn, share, connect, and celebrate! Each day will follow a different theme—the State and Future of Photography and Yellowstone’s Ecosystem—and we’ll celebrate nature and photography at keynote presentations, educational sessions, Lightning Talks, a Photo Gallery Crawl, and a new vendor format where you can check out and test equipment outside. Our keynote speakers are Rick Sammon, Henry Holdsworth, Dan Cox, and Geoff York who will inspire us to stretch our creativity. Continue reading →